Adjustable rotary sign



Sept. 25, 1934. Jl A BERNlNG Er AL 1,974,597

` ADJUSTABLE ROTARY SIGN' 4 Filed Aug. 28. 19:53

55 wv/2Q Z. t@ Wl WHW/T@ l y Patented Sept. 425|, i934 "UN-treo s'iArEfs "PATENT- ADJUSTABLE ROTARY SIGN io'seph A. B'ning'and 'Charles V. Ashba, DS MIISQ IWB Application August yes, 193e, serial fNe. 687,156

.7 Claims, v(oi.` io- 39) "The object -ofiour invention is to vprovide a. rotary sign i of -comnaratively -simple and inexpensive and rugged construction. y

It is more Apartioulakrly our purpose fto prevde i 55? a rotary sign so consf-tructedlthat it will be turned by 'the Winol` and provided-With pockets Efor catching 'the wind and with means` fo'i" Aadjusting `the size -of these ymeketsf't'o adapt the Sign for instal lation in places Where the amount of wind to f1.6? which lthe s'ignis subjected variesl Another objetis to provide suchasign yhaving a frigid fra-me -aindin which the signis rotatable withinltrfie` frame te 'prevent eliild-ren fromV playing it being injuredby it and also to M protect the'SigIn. i

Still another object is to provide in-suchla'sign a' novel jonrnalingmeansi fortherotafry member.

Another* purpose lis tof -Iirovide fa- `nprovidedV with simple 'mea/nsl for transmitting Ve'lec'trio 'cur- '01 rent Ato the rotary'fsign,"whereby the sigfnfm'ay 'the :aeeemperiyingf drawing, in whim: Figur-e I isfa' front elevation of theSi'gnHein-h bodying our invention. l

Fig-ure 2 1 is azil'lierizontalj, 'deiiiaiil,l sectional View :1155 taken enz the linee-Lauf Figure-11.1

Figure \3 isa vertical, sectional view through one; lufl the :ji'lmal's df the l 'sig-ILf illustra-ting the means for" rotatably moimlti-Iig' tle fsign andthe for eonductingeurrent through the Vsign; im and Figure 4f is -af diagrammatic topview` illustrating' aislightly medi-fied 'forli-iA of the rotating-portion ef theeign. i v i Our improved is designed; to be mounted. e5 on. an: upright 11o-,- which ycan 16e set iiiL cerieretie unconnected wi-trifenysuiteble base. l

'reieseopiciiilyreceivedT the upper eine of the post mi is1 anJ upright member 113,` Whichcan loe rigidly fixed inplaee" at thef clesired-` adjusted o height bylnjieens ofi a`-set` screw 122 p'roecting through. the walli of iov or By `l'a'eits-or oth'ci suitablemeans- The mein-bei" is'ltubulelr undA is;` eonneoted Withi a rectangular' frame T3 mede*` ofi tubular suitaiily-` ceimec'tedi at uie comerse i Y Rdtatably mounted in `the `frame 1 3 yis 4tlies'igii proper indicated generally by the 4reference chai'l` aCterfA. The 'sigh A isfpi'eierably 'compri's'edof a, rectangular frame having the spaced end r'neirbe's 14 and and the 'top sind bottom I'Ieinloers' 16 and l17. The members i8 indicated' Aaresim'ply decorations.

The frame ju'st intentioned' 'is of Subtantial depth as shown. Removably set in thei'fr'ie eempoeedef the members 14, l1 5, 16mm 17, whichlatter fr'arne v ve have designated `f or 'conve-iiieiee as the frame B, 'maybe eaiied' a lettering board 19. This may be made of Wood or :any

`suitable material and is designed "toi be set .he

frame B and to incline-diagonally'ffom one end to the other thereof virl-a verticali plar'iefas" hidicated best in Figure 2.

The lettering beard 'i9 must -be remevaifiie 'fi-ern the frame B. V As shown, we have illustrated-duerie'r'remids 2o fasten-'eu te trie mejiiib'ei 14 mi te the iep and weitem members is' and 17. quarter rounds aire eli@rangedl iriairsn the `iiliiei" feee ef the feanie member `17 anden the meer falce of the member 1-`6 toi fomgro'oves to rceiv the bottoni and "topvedges of the board 1-95.`

There is only one quarterr'ound "2'0 seburedft'o the end niemeer 11iy spaced inwardly from fone edge thereof as shown in Figure f2 at the left-- hand end 'of the freine B. The end of Vth'elotiard 19 there ebute against the fief-nie 'member' 114i. The frarei'neber `15 'iS-'cut away atne uiirigli't edge -a-nd thev upright quarter round 26 'at that end of the sign is placed adjacent the ede of the Vfr .firiiemenriber i5; Screws zzl-rhey't'ejseiewed mie the frame member 1:5 for heiriig the Beard `1'9- in place" as 'shown in Figure?.

By removing the screWs'2-2gthe hoard I9' 'may be slipped out' ef the grooves eifme'd by trie up'-` per and lower vf iiiarte'r rounds 20.

'Any othrfsuitableseherheniay be provided for removably holding the` lo`oz'i-id' 19'V in place.

ey this arrangement, the beard` 119 may iie removed and another bearing a diierentjgjdvrgisement mey be substituted ii desired er iii-e hoera may bie removed for painting new 4au; vertiseil'ien't "on it, after which] tlie same board i'ay be replaced.

We wiii new describe the iouriiaiiii means by which the' sign A 'is retetebiymounted the frame 13. Secured tothe upper sufaeeo'f the lowerpart lof the frame 13 vabout initlwy tliereof is a basejz; Extending* uiiwardly from the base 23 is e tubular socket '24* open at its Jupii r end anu 'eie'eeu ai its lower end;v The opening l the socket '221y indicated 'gener-elly ei; 25 in Figure 3 has a lower portion 26 of reduced diameter, thus aifording in the lower part of the socket an annular horizontal shoulder 27.

A passage 28 leads from the bottom of the opening 26 to the outer surface of the socket 24 and is closed by a threaded plug 29. The passage 28 is for water and lubricant drainage, A thrust and radial bearing 30 of ordinary construction rests on the shoulder 27.

On the interior of the opening spaced above the shoulder 27 is an annular groove 31 into which may be snapped a split resilient ring V32 for holding the bearing in place.

Secured to the under side of the lower frame member 17 of the frame B is a plate 33, which has a central, downwardly projecting post 34, the lower end of which is reduced in diameter to provide a suitable shoulder 35"y to bear against the bearing 30. Spaced outwardly from.' the post 34, the plate 33 is provided withv a downwardly projecting annular skirt 36, which serves as a weather protector. v

The frame B is thereby supported on the frame 13 for rotation.

In the skirt 36 is a hole 37 through which the snout of an oil can may be projected for supplying oil to the opening 25 in the socket 24, and which may be normally closed by a screw plug 37a.

A similar bearing structure is provided for the top of the frame B. In this case, the base 23 is fixed to the upper member 16 of the frame B and the plate or base 33 is secured to the upper horizontal member of the frame 13.

There is thus provided ample bearing for the rotary frame B with suitable lubrication and standard construction for the upper and lower bearings, except in particulars now to be mentioned.

Provision may be made for the illumination of our sign. Various schemes may be adopted, but we have illustrated here a particular method by which illumination may be afforded.

Electric current conducting wires 38 may be extended upwardly from the lower part of the post member 10 and into the hollow tubular frame 13 to the upper part thereof and out through the wall.

In Figure 3, we have shown the lead wires emerging through the hole 39. For transmitting current from the stationary frame 13 to the rotatable frame B, we provide the following means:

The upper end of the socket 24 at the .top of the frame B is providedwith a ring of insulation 40 in which lare set spaced wiper rings 42-43. Slidably mounted in the skirt 36 are brushes 44-45 yieldingly pressed by the springs 46--47 against the respective rings 42-43. The lead wires 38 are connected by binding posts 48-49 with the respective springs I6-47. One conducting wire 50 is connected by a binding post 51 with the wiper ring 43 and the conducting wire 52 is connected by a binding post 53 and a conducting strip 54 with the wiper ring 42.

It will, of course, be understood that the strip 54 is insulated from the socket 24 and the ring 43.

The conducting wires.50-52 may be connected with a bulb or bulbs mounted at any suitable place on the frame B or the board 19 or may be connected with a neon tube 55 supported on the frame B or the board 19 and extending partly or entirely around that frame or the board.

We shall now refer to other features of our invention, to-wit the ladjustable wind pockets.

It will be seen that when the board 19 is set diagonally in the frame B, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the upright member 14 and the top and bottom frame members 16 and 17 form a pocket on one side of the board 19 as indicated at C in Figure 2. Likewise the frame member 15 and the frame members 16 and 17 form a pocket indicated at D at the right-hand end of Figure 2.

We have found that by the provision of this pocket when the sign is set up and subjected to the ordinary wind currents, it will rotate.

We have also found that very little wind is required for this purpose where proper bearings are provided and that also while there is some Variation in the speed at which the sign rotates, it seems to have much greater resistance to the rotation as the speed increases.

We have also found that we can regulate what might be called the normal speeds of rotation considerably by regulating the size of the pockets.

Sometimes signs are placed in locations where they are subject to'less wind than in other places and it is then desirable to have a larger pocket. We have disclosed two ways in which the size of the pockets may be adjusted.

In Figure 4, we have shown a frame B' corresponding generally to the frame B, in which the upright members 14a and 15a have their inner surfaces concave from side edge to side edge. This permits the lettering board 19a to be adjusted in its diagonal mounting of the frame to a variety of positions. We have shown it in one position in full lines and in another position in dotted lines. Itis seen that it is adjusted on the vertical axis of the sign and with relation to the frame B.

It will be understood that any suitable means may be provided for fastening the lettering board 19a in place; for instance quarter rounds, such as those already described may be used, and the quarter rounds Von onevrside may be removed for removing the board.

'I'he board may be thus adjustedfor varying the size of the pockets for adapting the sign to the location in which it is to be used.

In Figures 1 and 2, wefhave shown another way for controlling the size of the pockets. We have shown mounted on the end members 14 and 15 the upright extension strips or plates 56, which are arranged on the outside of the upright frame members` and have at their upper and lower ends the horizontal wings 57. The p1atesv56 and wings 57 are provided with horizontal elongated slots 58. Bolts 59 and nutsv 60 may be extended through the members 14.and 15 and through the members 16 and 17 and through the slots 58and tightened for adjusting thev pocketl extension strips 67 to any desired position. The construction of these extension pockets may be varied in many ways for adapting the sign to locations where the wind to which it is subjected may vary. It will be seen from the foregoing that many changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the different parts of our improved sign, and it is our purpose to cover by our claims any modifications in structure or in the use of materials, which may be included within their scope and within the scope of our'invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a sign of thekind described, a frame mounted for rotation on a Vertical axis, said frame being of substantial depth, a lettering board mounted in said frame and inclined diagonally from end to end thereof in averticalplane, whereby pockets are formed on the opposite side of the board at theends of the frame, and means for varying the sizes of the pockets.

2. In a sign, a lettering board mounted for rotating on a vertical axis, means for forming pockets on the opposite side of the board at its ends, and means for varying the sizes of such pockets.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame mounted for rotation on a vertical axis and having top, bottom and spaced end members, said frame being of substantial width, and pocket extension members mounted on the end members of said frame for adjustment for varying the size of the pockets.

4. In a sign, a fixed frame, a frame mounted for rotation within the xed frame having substantial depth, a lettering board mounted in said second frame and inclined diagonally from end to end thereof in a vertical plane, whereby pockets are formed at the opposite ends of the frame, said board being adapted to be mounted at varying angles for thus varying the sizes of said pockets.

5. In a sign, a fixed frame, a frame mounted for rotation within the fixed frame having substantial depth, a lettering board mounted in said second frame and inclined diagonally from end to end thereof in a vertical plane, whereby pockets are formed at the opposite ends of the frame, and members adjustably mounted on the ends of said second frame for varying the size of said pockets.

6. In a structure of the kind described, an upright supporting member, a member adjustable telescopically with relation to said supporting member, means for securing said members in different positions of theirl adjustment, a fixed frame on said second member, a rotatable sign, means for journaling the rotatable sign on the xed frame at the upper and lower parts of the rotatable sign, comprising in each case a base mounted in one case on the fixed frame and in the other case on the rotatable sign, each base having a socket formed with a shoulder near its lower part resting on said bearing, a plate spaced above each socket and secured respectively to the rotatable frame and to the fixed frame, a post extending downwardly from each plate having an annular shoulder resting upon its bearing, and a skirt extending downwardly from each plate and receiving the upper end of the socket.

'7. In a structure of the kind described, an upright supporting member, a member adjustable telescopically with relation to said supporting member, means for securing said members in different positions of their adjustment, a xed frame on said second member, a rotatable sign, means for journaling the rotatable sign on the xed frame at the upper and lower parts of the rotatable sign, comprising in each case a base mounted in one case on the fixed frame and in the other case on the rotatable sign, each base having a socket formed with a shoulder near its lower part resting on said bearing, a plate spaced above each socket and secured respectively to the rotatable frame and to the xed frame, a post extending downwardly from each plate having an annular shoulder resting upon its bearing, a skirt extending downwardly from each plate and receiving the upper end of the socket, means for transmitting electric current from the xed frame to the rotatable sign and comprising insulated wiper rings on one of the sockets and spring-pressed slidable brushes mounted on the adjacent skirt and insulated therefrom.

CHARLES V. ASHBA. JOSEPH A. BERNING. 

